Our Leadership 

Breakthrough T1D’s leadership boards include the International Board of Directors and the Global Mission Board.

International Board of Directors 

Breakthrough T1D’s governing body is tasked with accelerating mission progress.

Fiscal Year 2027 Members

  • Karen Jordan
    Chair
  • Carlton McMillan
    Vice-Chair
  • Michael Alter
  • Mike Boyle
  • Elizabeth Caswell
  • David Cramer
  • Faith Glazier
  • Helena Gottschling
  • Claudia Graham, Ph.D., MPH
  • Jeremy Lott
  • Per Lundin
  • Ron Miller
  • Jennifer Schneider
  • Drayton Virkler
  • Janet Woodcock, M.D.
Breakthrough T1D’s mission is deeply personal, not only for my daughter and me, but for the entire global type 1 diabetes community. The remarkable progress we’ve seen is powered by this community’s passion and dedication, and together we will continue driving advances toward curing, preventing, and better treating T1D.”
Karen Jordan International Board of Directors Chair

Executive Team 

Breakthrough T1D’s executive team partners with our leadership boards to advance our mission.

CEO Aaron J. Kowalski, Ph.D.
Aaron J. Kowalski, Ph.D., speaks at one of Breakthrough T1D’s many events.

Aaron J. Kowalski, Ph.D. 
Breakthrough T1D Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer Aaron J. Kowalski, Ph.D., drives strategies to advance Breakthrough T1D’s mission to cure, prevent, and treat T1D and its complications. Dr. Kowalski joined the organization in 2004 and held the position of Chief Mission Officer before assuming his current role as CEO, leading Breakthrough T1D’s research and advocacy strategy. Dr. Kowalski is an internationally recognized scientific expert in T1D research. He has also served as a policy leader for the organization, regularly advising Congress, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dr. Kowalski’s scientific expertise, personal experience living with T1D for more than 35 years, and his ability to engage the T1D community enable him to lead Breakthrough T1D in our path to cures.

  • Thomas Danne, M.D.
    Chief Medical Officer, International
  • Sanjoy Dutta, Ph.D.
    Chief Scientific Officer
  • Annette Freytag
    Chief of Staff
  • Lucio Iannone, Ph.D.
    Managing Director, T1D Fund
  • Vish Jain
    Chief Information Officer
  • Tracy Mido
    Chief Human Resources Officer

  • Maggie Morris
    Chief Financial Officer
  • Pam Morrisroe
    Chief Marketing Officer
  • Jesse Raben
    Chief Legal and Risk Officer
  • Kathleen Seitz
    Chief Global Development and Operations Officer
  • Lynn Starr
    Chief Global Advocacy Officer
  • Sylvia Tobe
    Managing Director, T1D Fund
Today, people with T1D are living healthier lives because of the breakthroughs we have championed.”
Aaron J. Kowalski, Ph.D. Breakthrough T1D CEO

Global Mission Board

A group of national volunteer leaders who accelerate Breakthrough T1D’s mission progress through special initiatives.

  • Matthew Cohn, Chair
  • Jeff Adams
  • Cathy Baier
  • Jennifer Bennett
  • Maria Conroy
  • Meredith Coors
  • Jennie Costner
  • Laura Cramer
  • Nanette DeTurk
  • Pam Edmonds
  • James Lurie, Esq.
  • Cynthia Ford
  • Ian Joyce
  • Mark Kacher
  • Marshall Lang
  • Gwen Malone
  • Pat McFeeley
  • Deborah Nuzzo
  • Carol Oxenreiter
  • Margery Perry
  • Travis Rhodes
  • Jay Rosenfeld
  • Brad Schur
  • Lorne Shiff
  • Michael Soper
  • Hans ten Cate
  • Petra Vester
  • Jenny Williams
The volunteer-staff partnership is at the core of everything we have achieved and continues to drive us forward every day. ”
Matthew Cohn Global Mission Board Chair

T1D Fund Board of Directors 

  • Joe Lacher, Chair
  • Mike Boyle
  • Karen Jordan
  • Grant Beard
  • John Cammett
  • Aaron J. Kowalski, Ph.D.